Deformation texture evolution of pure aluminum sheet under electromagnetic bulging

•Pure Al sheet was deformed by electromagnetic bulging at strain rate over 103 s−1.•Texture evolution shows a function of strain path and high strain rate.•Goss and Rotated Goss finally tend to stabilize at P texture for strain path effect.•The mean intra-granular misorientations increase along the function of strain path.•Extra path of texture evolution for enhanced cross slip activity at high strain rate.

The deformation texture and microstructure evolution in pure aluminum sheet after electromagnetic bulging was investigated in detail by using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques. It was found that the textural and microstructural developments were correlated with the complex strain path and the high strain rate. Stress–strain states from approximate uniaxial tension, non-equibiaxial tension to equibiaxial tension were experienced in the formed conical-shape workpiece along with the increasing strain ratio (i.e., the ratio between minor strain and major strain, representing the strain path of the formed workpiece). The grain orientation and distribution of boundary misorientation were found to be a function of the strain ratio, especially for the texture evolution in volume fraction of 〈1 1 0〉 fiber. A specific orientation with high Taylor factor, Rotated Goss 〈1 1 0〉, was observed and analyzed in terms of the contribution of preferable stress–strain state from the complex strain path and the assistance of high strain rate, which could increase the cross-slip activity, and eventually facilitate the texture development and induce more uniform microstructure.